Laparoscopic Differential Dissector (DDL)
Designing the Laparoscopic Differential Dissector (DDL) has been an iterative process, driven by surgeon evaluation and feedback.  I've designed, fabricated and tested many prototypes a few of which are pictured below.  These devices are featured in the videos on our website.

The DDL is an FDA class 2 device that has a 5mm OD shaft and embodies:

- powered blunt dissection,

- single hand, surgeon deployable electrosurgical cut and coagulation hook,

- optional suction / irrigation / smoke evacuation module

Engineering challenges include:

- Oscillating drive train that operates at high frequencies and amplitudes while tolerating the very large forces and bending moments that surgeons routinely produce.

- High frequency, high voltage electrical current that must run through the device subject to IEC 60601 testing and design criteria.

- Device must sense when electrode is deployed and prohibit simultaneous use of powered blunt dissection.

- Device must have provision for an optional device to control gravity fed irrigation fluids and interface with a surgical vacuum source.

- Batteries for powered blunt dissection must be removeable at the end of surgery for disposal in separate hospital waste stream. 

- Device is single use disposable so the design must minimize resource consumption and be as inexpensive as possible.  The design also must defy attempts to resterilize and reuse.

- The hardware that passes through the shaft must be sealed to prevent loss of insufflation  pressure and escape of fluids during use of suction / irrigation module.

The design that we settled on enables effortless and intuitive control of all functions.

DDL with suction / irrigation module (SIM) installed